U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 60% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $25,169. College Scorecard.
University of Memphis Theatre: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses University of Memphis's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,607 | $47,307 | 12.1 years |
| $30–48k | $10,968 | $48,917 | 12.5 years |
| $48–75k | $13,923 | $62,097 | 15.8 years |
| $75–110k | $17,384 | $77,533 | 19.8 years |
| $110k+ | $18,691 | $83,362 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (31% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Theatre graduates 4 years after graduating ($38,440) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $3,922 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Theatre at Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee college we cover that reports Theatre graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $41,414 | — | $18,976 | 74% |
| 2 | University of Memphis | $38,440 | $22,875 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University | $33,179 | $19,000 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University | $28,062 | — | $15,983 | 53% |
19 more Tennessee colleges offer Theatre but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Theatre graduates
Producers and Directors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Writers and Authors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Fashion Designers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +0.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at University of Memphis, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Memphis
- Acceptance rate: 72% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 51% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $48,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 51 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Memphis
- Music$45,321
- Studio Art$48,064
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design—
University of Memphis Theatre questions
How much do University of Memphis Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of University of Memphis earn a median $38,440 four years after graduating and $19,055 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do University of Memphis Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of University of Memphis is $22,875, about 60% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is University of Memphis a good school for Theatre in Tennessee?
On pay, Theatre graduates of University of Memphis earn $38,440 four years out, $2,630 above the median for the same major across 4 Tennessee colleges ($35,810) and $1,645 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Memphis rank for Theatre in Tennessee?
Of 4 Tennessee colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, University of Memphis ranks 2nd. The highest is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville at $41,414.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $60,440 in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR area and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of Memphis Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-memphis/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).